Residents may not know it, but Alachua County’s Growth Management Department plays a crucial role in shaping the county’s future by encouraging sustainable development and orderly growth with meticulous planning and review.
With 48 employees, this multifaceted branch of county government is responsible for guiding development in a way that balances progress with environmental protection, improves transportation safety and assists residents with zoning, permitting questions and much more.
At the heart of the department’s mission is the development, amendment, and implementation of the county’s Comprehensive Plan -- a state-mandated document -- which determines whether new private developments and county infrastructure projects move forward.
“Our goal is to ensure everything we do is in line with our Comprehensive Plan and is consistent with our county’s overall goals,” said Growth Management Director Jeff Hays. “An important piece of that is making sure that any new development has the infrastructure to support it.”
Permitting
For many residents, their most pressing concerns involve their own property-related questions. Growth Management is readily available to assist residents with code compliance, zoning regulations and finding property records.
Hays said that some of the most frequent inquiries the department receives involve what can be done on a property, such as owning livestock, fences or building sheds.
The department is also regularly contacted during the buying or selling process of homes. He strongly encourages prospective homeowners and business owners to consult with Growth Management before purchasing property to verify that structures are properly permitted and meet building codes.
A building permit serves as a legal authorization to commence construction on projects such as homes, pools, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or large sheds. This process ensures that projects comply with approved designs, electrical safety standards and structural specifications. Proper permitting not only guarantees structural integrity but also assures lenders that a project is legitimate and compliant.
The department is committed to guiding residents through this process, from the start of an initial application to final approval.
“Buying a home is one of the biggest investments people make in their lifetime,” Hays said. “Ensuring that a structure is built to code and inspected by experts helps homeowners avoid costly problems down the road.”
Learn more about the county’s permitting process.
Zoning
Although individual municipalities within Alachua County manage their own zoning and development plans, the county oversees zoning and land use regulations in unincorporated areas.
Each property’s unique characteristics and its zoning determine what can be done on parcels.
Rezoning properties to different uses can also be complex and vary by location. For instance, areas east toward Hawthorne contain wetlands, while land to the west, toward Newberry, has more agricultural land. The guidelines are set up to ensure proposed developments don’t impact protected lands or significantly impact single-family neighborhoods.
“The importance of zoning is really to guide the way a community wants to develop and find the best ways for different land uses to complement each other,” said Principal Planner Chris Dawson. “The challenge is to keep everybody happy with what’s going on around them.”
Zoning regulations have historically served to separate residential areas from businesses, preserving the character and livability of neighborhoods. In more recent years, however, urban planning has shifted toward integrating mixed-use developments through rezoning that blends residential, commercial and sometimes recreational spaces. Examples include Tioga Town Center, Haile Village Center, Celebration Pointe, and larger student housing complexes like The Standard in Gainesville.
In 2020, voters also approved the county’s Growth Management Area (GMA). The GMA amendment allows the county’s Comprehensive Plan to apply within portions of the unincorporated area, even in the event of a future annexation.
Development Review and public engagement
Public engagement is a cornerstone of the county’s process for new housing developments and businesses.
By the time a proposal reaches a County Commission meeting, Growth Management has already conducted extensive reviews and engaged with developers to ensure compliance with the county’s Comprehensive Plan. Many projects that don’t meet this standard never move forward.
Throughout this process, Growth Management collaborates with other departments, such as Environmental Protection and Public Works, using robust discussions and data analysis to prevent negative impacts on neighborhoods or protected natural resources. The department evaluates factors such as traffic flow, sidewalks, vehicle access points, nearby conservation lands and tree canopies.
“We always invite the public to share their thoughts on proposed developments,” Hays said. “While our professionals review the work to ensure it aligns with the county’s vision, nearby residents often have firsthand knowledge and concerns, such as traffic issues, that we need to take into account.”
The department also administers impact fees for new developments. These one-time fees help fund surrounding infrastructure improvements, including turn lanes, fire hydrants, neighborhood parks, and road expansions to support safe and efficient traffic flow and support growth.
Transportation
One of Growth Management’s most essential functions is ensuring transportation safety across Alachua County. Whether improving walkability by recommending sidewalks and crosswalks or enhancing major intersections with the help of Public Works, the department relies on public input and data to make transportation safer and more accessible for all.
In addition to incorporating these factors into new developments, the department also leads initiatives like Safe Streets For All (SS4A), a collaboration with all municipalities and the University of Florida. Through community workshops, SS4A identifies and addresses systemic safety issues, focusing on policy improvements and actionable projects to reduce risks for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Furthermore, the department is creating a new Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan that will present the first major update to the county's bike and pedestrian infrastructure planning in more than 20 years. This initiative aims to expand non-motorized networks to support safe and accessible travel for all residents.
“Together, these plans will serve as complementary roadmaps to improve the safety and comfort of everyone navigating Alachua County, whether on foot, by bike, or in a vehicle,” said Transportation Planning Manager Alison Moss.
Other Initiatives
Forward Focus
In fall 2024, the County Commission launched Forward Focus: Eastern Alachua County, a three-year initiative to enhance quality of life, boost economic opportunities, and address community needs in the eastern part of the county. Through extensive public engagement, Growth Management and various other county departments are working together to help shape economic development, housing, infrastructure and community services on the eastern side of the county.
“With the input gathered at these workshops, we can amend our Comprehensive Plan and other key documents to support development and quality of life in Eastern Alachua County,” said Principal Planner Ben Chumley.
Map Genius
Launched in 2013, the department also houses Map Genius, an innovative one-stop mapping tool. The application provides crucial information on land parcels, deeds, zoning, school zones, flood zones, utility services, political districts, environmental features and much more.
The system was created by the late Jimmy Collins, a former county GIS systems analyst and programmer, and remains one of the most advanced interactive mapping platforms in the region.
“The idea was to create an in-house system that quickly answers many of the questions we receive from the community,” said GIS Analyst Bobby Jensen.
Jensen added that his team is working on an update to improve accessibility and add new tools to the system, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for the community for years to come.”
"I'm incredibly proud of our dedicated Growth Management team, whose commitment and expertise have helped shape a community that we can all take pride in," said Hays.